Second qualifying practice : FRONT ROW START FOR LORENZO
ON DECISIVE WEEKEND
Jorge Lorenzo will start tomorrows Portuguese GP his first
chance to clinch the 250 World Championship on the front row
of the grid. The FORTUNA APRILIA rider claimed fourth position
in the second qualifying session, whilst team-mate Hector
Barbera took fifth. Lorenzo, who has unveiled a new gold helmet
this weekend, suffered a fall in the morning session when
he came together with a slower rider in a corner. Lorenzo
was uninjured, but his bike did suffer a subsequent engine
problem which forced him to use his second bike for the afternoon
session. Despite that inconvenience, he was one of the main
protagonists of the qualifying session and posted a lap of
1'41.642 to take fourth 0.131 behind pole position. There
was very little between the leading riders with barely a second
covering the top 14. Barbera was 0.085 behind team-mate Lorenzo
in fifth and both riders will be full of confidence ahead
of Sunday's race which could prove so important for Lorenzo.
JORGE LORENZO, 4th
"I was hoping to fight for pole position but that was
not possible as I found it harder than I expected to find
the pace. However, fourth position means we will start on
the front row and I believe it's an exciting time that we
should try and enjoy. The team is doing a great job and I
want to thank them for all their work. As concerns the race
tomorrow, it will be very hard and I will make sure I don't
take any unnecessary risks."
HÉCTOR BARBERÁ, 5th
"On the first lap of qualifying I had a problem with
the gears which forced me to change bikes. On the second bike
I did not feel as comfortable as I would have liked and that
prevented me from pushing as hard as I wanted. I changed back
to the first again and things went better. I am not too worried
about being in fifth and I have found a good rhythm and am
confident of making a good start."
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